No extra funds for PATS review

The $7 million annual Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) provides reimbursement for travel and accommodation costs at a rate of 16 cents per kilometre and $30 per night.

Commercial transport, including airfares and bus tickets, is subsidised except for a $30 patient contribution per trip.

Patients who live more than 100km outside of the city of Adelaide are eligible to access the scheme for travel and accommodation for specialist medical care not available locally.

State Health minister Jack Snelling announced the review on Monday after concerns were raised by regional parliamentarians.

Mr Snelling told the ABC's Andrew Schmidt that there was no additional money available for the scheme.

He said it would instead consider restricting the eligibility criteria.

"That may well be something that we may have to look at, we have a certain amount of money to spend," Mr Snelling said.

"Really the review will be about how we better allocate the funding so that those most at need of transport assistance get it, yes that may well mean tightening up the eligibility somewhat.

"Any reform we do will be about how we better allocate the existing bucket of money."

Mr Snelling said the timeframe for the review had not yet been set but that it would be undertaken by a senior public servant outside of the health department.

"I haven't put a time frame around it yet, we will need to appoint someone to undertake the review and formulate the terms of reference, but I would be hoping it would be within a few months," he said.

Up for consideration

Mr Snelling suggested the review may alleviate the need for patients to pay travel costs upfront, particularly in the case of airfares.